Big Springs Hollow

The Big Springs Trail in Provo Canyon is a great trail that used to lead to an amazing set of springs. Unfortunately, the famed springs have been destroyed by the city. It is still a lovely trail system, but the end prize for which the trail, the hollow, and the park below it are named for have been irreversibly destroyed. After all the work we put in to reach them on this hot 95 degree day it was really disappointing to see. However, the trail still follows a beautiful clear creek and passes a few smaller springs while crossing through forests and meadows. So it is still a lovely hike.

The current pretty big spring along the trail.

Quick Details:

Length: The city says about 1 mile. My pedometer app put it at 1.8 miles to the springs, and a 3.9 mile total loop. Other guides seem to agree with that mileage. The city must mean ‘as the crow flies’.
Difficulty: DR3 pretty mellow slight uphill gain most of the way.
Elevation Gain: About 850 Ft.
Restroom: There is a flush toilette in the park below the trailhead.
Dogs? As I understand it they are allowed, leashed. However there was not a sign to confirm this.

To get here, take i15 to exit 272 in Provo. Take that to Provo Canyon (stay in the left lane to get into the canyon). Head up the canyon past Bridal Veil Falls (if you haven't seen it, stop. It is an AMAZING waterfall and I believe it to be the tallest in Utah. Continue up the canyon to Vivian Park (about 5.4 miles from the mouth of the canyon) and take a right on South Fork Rd. Continue up the road for 3.3 miles. turn right at the National Forest Access sign and then it is .2 miles up to the end of the park to the upper parking lot.

Heading towards Provo Canyon, I finally learned this is called Cascade Mountain (DBP).

A decent shot of the south end of Timpanogos (DBP).

Bridal Veil Falls is looking kind of low on water right now (DBP). Definitely worth a stop if you have never been. A lot of great viewpoints.

Wow, look at all the people there today!

And Upper Falls (DBP). Also a nice hike, definitely the place to go to beat the crowds at Bridal Veil.

After turning at Vivian Park you take this thin paved road along South Fork Canyon (DBP).

There are some nice views along the way (DBP).

And we have arrived to the upper parking lot of Big Springs Park. Apparently, today was the day to go out to the parks! All of them, all the way up the canyon were just packed! I was worried that meant the trail would be packed too, but actually it was fairly deserted.

Now, onto the trail! PS it is located on the west side of it, or to the right side of this photo.

The creek.

Someone hauled a couch up here to the first little campsite area. Uhm… cool but, not cool. Cool if you plan on hauling it back out (which I doubt) not cool because now someone else will have to. Please don’t do this.

The trail. Loving the green up here.

Into the woods!

Itty bitty little spring.

More green.

The creek again. One thing to be said for this trail, the bridges are nice and sturdy.

Hitting some aspens.

Another bridge.

Nice clear water.

Green hillsides.

Another little spring. This one has a nice pool.

Another crossing.

Back into the woods.

The largest meadow, with a nice view of Cascade Mountain.

There were tons of butterflies along the trail, but none of them stopped for even a second, well, until these guys.

Trail split. When I am not sure which trail I should take, I tend to take the wider, more beaten trail, which usually takes me where I want to go. Stay to the right here.

It is such a lovely day up here! Even though it is 95 degrees I am really enjoying myself. Landis on the other hand, was not having as much fun as I was. Usually I am the wuss when it comes to temperature, I don’t know why today was different.

Another little spring watering this line of trees.

The creek again.

Another nice spring. I would say, this is now the Big Spring.

Some nice flowers, in a little heart shaped bush.

Top of the spring.

Lush green forest.

Only a half mile to go! And confirmed looking at Cascade Mountain, only another 4.1 miles to the saddle. Maybe another time.

Both times we have done this trail, we have taken the trail to the left up, and the road to the right down. Either way will get you there. The signage might actually be better from the road, but if you take the trail, after the springs, keep going, and take the first right fork to continue down to the road.

Another sturdy bridge.

The creek again.

Low Larkspur.

Small flower woodland star.

And I think these are Elder Flowers.

Another shot of Cascade Mountain.

Entering more coniferous woods! From the trail split, the trail starts to get a little more steep. Not too bad, bet definitely more uphill at this point.

A pretty big burl. It’s really not that interesting, but I learned what they are while in The Redwoods and think it’s kind of neat to see them nearer to home.

I just love being in the woods.

Almost there! Phew! This one is certainly longer than I remember it being.

More woods.

Looking up.

Almost there.

Huh, they appear to be doing some construction up here, I wondered what they were up to…

NO…. they didn’t?

They did. I don’t know why they did this, but they have completely destroyed Big Springs, and capped them off. Why did they do this? This is really upsetting.

A couple images from our 2013 adventure up here, which unfortunately was in fall and I didn’t see the springs in full flow then either, and now never will. I mean, they were certainly no Cascade Springs, but they were still special. It really is a shame to see them destroyed. Sigh. Alright, moving on.

Some bluebells.

Smaller spring below offers some pretty.

In their defense it looks like they tried to preserve some of it, and I imagine overflow will be allowed out of those pipes? However, the spring beds might be nice, but certainly won’t be as pretty with the water coming out of a pipe.

After what’s left of Big Springs there is a boardwalk over a lush swampy area.

Not too long after this is an unsigned, yet obvious trail split. If you wanted the short loop, hang right. If you want to continue up to Cascade Saddle, keep left.

Neat flower in a lily pad looking leaf.

The trail junction from the other end.

Some debris sitting around from whatever they are doing up here.

This part of the trail follows the old dirt road up.

Well, this is an improvement at least. The creek used to cross the road here.

Here from 2013.

The creek above.

The scout camp has a much stronger presence this year. It appeared to be deserted at the moment but I still felt weird about going to check out the nice waterfall that is just above the nearest tent on the right.

Continuing down trail.

The creek above the new dam.

The creek again.

The new big spring again.

Mostly submerged flower.

More woods.

Nice split in the creek.

Looking down creek.

Small meadow.

Back to the aspens.

Back to the big meadow.

Into the woods again.

Elder Flowers.

I decided to check out this side trail.

The creek fans out here a bit.

Old fire pit..it would seem butterflies like ash? I have never seen so many butterflies hanging out in one area.I mean, I have seen a bunch in a spot before, but this is really a lot!

The creek and peaks above.

I rarely get a glimpse of these guys with their wings open. So pretty.

Even more came back after we walked away from the ashes for a couple minutes.

The creek again.

And again.

Peak above.

And the creek near the trailhead.

Mt. Timpanogos through a dirty windshield (DBP).

Looking down Provo Canyon (DBP).

Overflow waterfall (DBP).

And Timpanogos Mountain (DBP). It’s a little difficult to see the “maiden of the mountain” from this particular angle. Lets see what I can dig up.

That is a little better, from July of 2015. There are quite a few different legends behind Mount Timpanogos. Most of them end with a distraught Indian Maiden, after her lover is killed, laying down on top of the mountain to die, and that is why the mountain looks the way it does. Sometimes I can see it, most times I can’t. Still kind of a cool story.

Well, overall this is still a great trail system. I am really upset the main feature, the end prize has been destroyed, but it is still a nice trail with a lot of neat stuff to see. It’s got lovely patches of woods, beautiful meadows, some nice pretty smaller springs and a very clear creek you follow almost the entire way. Plus, even through the entire canyon is packed with humans, and the park below is absolutely packed, we only passed a couple people though the entire 4 miles. My original shock, and anger wanted to put this trail down to 5 squirrels, but I will bump it up 2 for the other great things I mentioned.

As for difficulty, there is a slight incline for most of the way, and it gets a little steeper near the end, but it wasn’t bad at all. No real hazards to worry about. DR3.

Dogs are allowed on leash. Please clean up after your furry friend!